Officials plea for public’s help to find whoever set dog on fire
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, CoatesvilleTimes.com
Chester County SPCA spokesman Rich Britton (left), flanked by Craig Baxter, an animal protective services officer for the agency, shows a photo of they type of dog that was burned to death.
COATESVILLE – Although animal cruelty always guarantees a reaction of rage and revulsion in Chester County, some cases – such as the abuse inflicted on a young adult dog this morning in Coatesville – evoke outrage that exceeds the norm.
Coatesville Police Det. Kevin Campbell said police were called at 2:37 a.m. to the 300 block of Coates Street, a remote area that is not within view of any homes. He said a passerby had called 911 to report what appeared from a distance to be a trash fire. Instead, officials found the charred remains of a dog that had been placed in some sort of bag, Campbell said.
“I’ve been a police officer in Coatesville for 15 years, 10 as a detective, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Campbell, shaking his head.
Cheryl Shaw and Craig Baxter, animal control officers for the Chester County SPCA, described the dog as a 15-pound, young adult male, likely a Yorkshire terrier mix, with silver, black and tan coloring. They said a necropsy would be performed at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center to get additional information about the dog’s death. For example, smoke in the lungs would indicate the dog was alive when it was set on fire, Shaw said.
Rich Britton, a spokesman for the nonprofit agency, said animal-control officers are committed to solving this “heinous” crime. Someone depraved enough to inflict such cruelty is likely to escalate to human abuse, he said. Anyone unable to care for an animal has an easy option: They can drop it off at the Chester County SPCA facility in West Goshen Township. “No questions asked,” Shaw added.
“Chester County is full of great animal-advocacy groups,” said Britton. “But what sets us apart is that we investigate the monsters who commit these acts. And in this case, we really want to find whoever did this.”
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to call the SPCA at 610-692-6113, ext. 226, or Coatesville police at 610-384-2300.
“Someone is missing a dog,” and police want to hear from them, Campbell said, adding that investigators did recover some evidence from the scene. He declined to elaborate.
In addition to providing investigators with information, Britton said Chester County residents can assist the agency with financial support. He said many people do not realize that the Chester County SPCA, which is not affiliated with any national group, does not receive state or federal funding. Another way to help is to remember the agency when seeking a pet, Britton said.
“Right now we’re filled to capacity with wonderful animals in need of adoption,” he said.
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